Any seamstresses? What could I do with this coat?

[Eyelashesoffire]

Hi, I got a beautiful wool coat on Vinted. I love the colour but it's far too big and just doesn't sit well on me. It's a size 10 and I'm more like a 12-14, so it should be small!

My question is do I just resell / donate to charity or could a seamstress alter it? I know I should just take it in somewhere but I haven't got the energy to find somewhere local and I wanted to have some ideas first

I've tried to attach photos but they're 'under review'.

I’d resell. Coats don’t alter well.

What's it like at the back? It looks as if it's designed to be a swing coat so drops from the shoulders front and back and is an exaggerated A line. What brand is it and is it wool?

It looks to be a beautiful coat. The style is meant to be loose and swinging so you need to determine where it doesn’t fit. I find that I feel overwhelmed by a coat if the sleeves are too long. Would shortening them and getting rid of the belted piece on them help? If so, it’s easy to shorten the sleeves as long as they don’t have vents with buttons - that makes it a bit more difficult.

What about cutting a slit in the side seams and putting a belt through so it's belted at the front but almost like a cape at the back.

Lovely ideas, yes I think selling is probably the easiest but that weighs heavy on me!

@PrincessofWells yes you're right, it's a wool swing coat, Wallis. I think it's quite old. I'm trying to add photos but they're just not loading.

Here's the coat on me

From the side, I think this is where I feel a bit swamped

That is massive on you. There would be so much to lose I think it would be better to sell it

Yes I think you're right, I thought a size 10 would be a bit small, I was very wrong! What a shame.

Is that a US size 10?

Exactly, I used to have a Wallis coat and the sizing was US.

It would probably cost a fair bit to get it altered as it will need re-cutting for a smaller size and you have to unpick and re-sew the lining too.

I’d happily do something like that for myself as a fun project but I’ve no idea how much a professional would charge.

Presumably a lot more than you paid for it! 🤪

Ah, yes it must be.

I love it! Would definitely buy that and could easily live with it being a bit big :)

I paid a tailor years ago to alter a Margaret Howell coat I'd bought in a charity shop. He mainly reduced the shoulders and shortened and narrowed the sleeves. He was a proper old school tailor though (and he's now retired unfortunately). It cost me more than twice what I'd paid for the coat but I decided it was worth it. The seamstress I normally go to very politely turned it down and said it wouldn't be worth her time.

So basically it's probably do-able if you can find a tailor who's willing to take it on and if you're prepared to pay for it.

When I put it on Vinted, I'll send you a PM!